Women ‘ask Dr. Rick’

Rick Perry, the man who likes to describe himself as “just a little ol’ animal science major from A&M,” probably wasn’t prepared nor was he expecting the flood of explicit questions about women’s health that began appearing on his Facebook Wall this morning. A barrage of snarky posts asked the governor for advice about everything from menstruation to menopause, cramping to contraceptives.

Among nearly 4,000 comments was this question from one “Tolley Jones”: “Mr. Perry, as a black woman who is also a single mother, I was wondering if you would consider legislation that would require women to go to a Red Hut during their periods, followed by required cleansing in holy water (preferably from the Euphrates.) as mandated in Leviticus. . . .”

Christine Plowright wanted to know: “Rick, How do you feel about the new comfort glide OB Tampons? I’m having a real hard time with them, one sneeze and they shoot right out. Do you think you could have them repealed for me? Thanks for any help you can provide.”

The Facebook questions mimic those found on other Republican pages, including those of state Sen. Ryan McDougle in Virginia and Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback. One crafting web site has taken the prank one step further, offering instructions on how to knit a representation of a uterus that can then be sent to politicians.

The comments obviously are in retaliation for last week’s announcement from the state Department of Health and Human Services that it would cut off some $35 million in federal funding for the Medicaid Women’s Health Program. The program provides Pap smears, breast exams, birth control and other services to some 130,000 poor and uninsured women. A newly enforced state law says money for the program cannot go to health-care providers that perform abortions. The law was an effort to keep tax dollars from going to Planned Parenthood, even though the Planned Parenthood clinics participating in the program are legally separate from those that provide abortions.

“There is no place for such inappropriate comments which do nothing to advance the important discussion about issues surrounding the Women’s Health Program,” said Catherine Frazier, a spokeswoman for the governor. “It’s clear many of these individuals are basing their remarks on something other than the facts – Gov. Perry is proud of his efforts to keep this program going, with or without the federal government, and will continue to fight for our state’s fair share of the federal tax dollars that have funded WHP.”

The governor has said he will find money elsewhere in the state budget to meet women’s health-care needs.